Common Types of Products in Defective Product Injury Cases
In a recent year, over 12.7 million people received emergency room treatment due to injuries caused by defective products. Manufacturers have a responsibility to make sure products are safe before releasing them to the public. Dangerous products must be recalled by the manufacturer as soon as they become aware of a defect.
High chairs that tip over, automobiles that explode on impact in low-speed collisions, and power tools with inadequate safety guards are just a few of the products that kill, injure, and maim unsuspecting consumers every year. You have the right to seek compensation if you or a loved one was injured due to an unsafe product.
What Is Product Liability?
Product liability is the legal liability for damages or injuries suffered because of defects in a product. Manufacturers, sellers, and marketers can all be held liable for injuries caused by dangerous products.
Because Georgia is a strict liability state, a person injured by a defective product isn’t required to prove that the liable party intentionally broke the rules. You only need to demonstrate that the product was unreasonably dangerous.
To receive damages in a product liability claim or lawsuit, you must demonstrate the following:
- You were injured by a product.
- You were using the product as directed.
- A defective condition caused your injury.
- The product was not altered after it was sold in a way that made it hazardous.
Types of Product Defects
All products should function as intended, and manufacturers must include warning stickers to inform buyers about dangers that would not be anticipated by the average consumer. Three types of product defects include:
- Design defects. A product is unreasonably dangerous when used as intended.
- Manufacturing defects. Something went wrong during the manufacturing process that created a hazard, and the manufacturer failed to adequately screen the product.
- Inadequate warnings. Instructions and warning labels must be provided to prevent harm arising from normal use of the product.
Types of Defective Products
Several types of products have the potential to cause harm when they are poorly designed and manufactured. That’s why manufacturers must anticipate design flaws before a dangerous product is unleashed on the public. It’s also important to thoroughly test and inspect new products.
Defective products that may cause serious injuries and fatalities include:
- Automotive products, including defective brakes, airbags, safety lights, fuel systems, seats, tires, seat belts, fuel tanks, transmission, headlights, and steering systems
- Toys with sharp edges, choking hazards, toxic chemicals, projectiles, strangulation risk
- Power tools, including drills, chainsaws, circular saws, presses, drills, band saws, grinders, and meat-cutting machinery with malfunctioning safety switches, inadequate warnings, missing safety guards, loose fittings, and insufficient lubrication
- Medical devices, including defective heart stents, insulin pumps, hernia mesh, implantable devices, wheelchairs, ventilators, pacemakers, and hip and knee implants
- Child safety issues, including defective car safety seats, high chairs, cribs, and playpens
- Household appliances, including defective furnaces, dehumidifiers, gas fireplaces, liquid fuel lanterns, gas-powered generators, boilers, stoves, water heaters, and portable electric heaters
- Safety devices, including defective fire alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Tools, including ladders, lawnmowers, log splitters, and farming equipment
- Sports and recreation equipment, including defective bicycles, e-bikes, helmets, guns, skates, skateboards, gym equipment, skis, snowboards, and trampolines
Damages Caused by Defective Products
Damages are monetary payments awarded as compensation for a loss or injury. In Georgia, there is no cap on punitive damages. If you or a loved one was harmed due to product liability, you may be eligible to receive damages for the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Time missed from work
- In-home nursing care
- Medical devices
- Occupational therapy
- Reduced earning potential
- Loss of consortium
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Nerve damage
- Vision loss
- Internal bleeding
- Crush injuries
- Paralysis
- PTSD
- Drowning or near-drowning
- Wrongful death
We’ve Won Over a Billion Dollars for Our Clients
At Butler Prather LLP, we’ve been helping people in Georgia get the resources they need for over 35 years. If you or a loved one was severely injured because of a defective product, our Columbus defective product lawyers file a claim or lawsuit to help you cover the cost of your medical bills and other expenses.
Butler Prather LLP has won landmark cases for clients in over 30 states. Our Columbus attorneys have won nine verdicts that exceed $100 million and over 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.
Founding partner James Butler was featured in the Atlanta Bar Association’s Legends of the Bar Series, and the independent rating agency Super Lawyers recognizes us for the outstanding service our clients receive.
Call us at (706) 322-1990 to schedule a FREE consultation today.